Can it even be done? Is it possible to stay interested in a body of work that could last months, even years?
For some of us, yes. For some of us, no.
The only way to know if you'll succeed at staying interested in a series is to know how you work. Are you easily distracted by different and new things? Do you work in creative bursts or over long periods? If you are easily distracted by new things and ideas it can be difficult to stay on point when all you want to do is try out this new idea. It takes discipline, but there is also a passion that has to be there for the concept you are trying to bring out visually, which will be the focus of a future post.
As a mom there is another aspect: endurance. It has been my hardest thing to keep up with my current series. And once your endurance starts to wane the passion goes with it. I've gotten very tired over the past several weeks. My kids have run me ragged with their antics, lack of sleeping through the night, and constant needs. It's left me no time to breathe and when you can't feed your body your mind suffers along with it. And when the mind suffers you begin to lose interest in the things you once loved.
The best way to stay interested in a series is to make sure you take care of yourself. If your body can't keep up, you won't be able to have the endurance to keep your passion for your concept alive. It has been the way of the artist to sacrifice themselves for their art, but I entreat you, my fellow mama photographers and non-mama photographers, your art suffers if you suffer. Take care of yourself.